So why do our disgusting dogs chew on our used sanitary products, and what should we do if they ingest one?

The Why

You probably already know that dogs are big on sniffing crotches. They do this because they're searching for information — the same reason they sniff other dogs' butts. Our genital and anal areas contain high concentrations of pheromones, which is what dogs are trying to sniff out. These pheromones might smell differently to dogs when humans are menstruating, which is why your dog might seem especially glued to your crotch during that time of the month.

There's a related reason your dog may chomp down on your tampons. Although there is no definite answer as to why dogs eat non-food items, we can make some educated guesses. Melvin Peña at Dogster points out that dogs' consumption of human biowaste is not limited to tampons. Dogs have also been known to get into dirty diapers, used condoms, and any other gross biowaste product that can be put in a trash can.

Peña also notes that a dog's primary sense organs, and the two that they can use from birth, are their nose and their tongue. Smell and taste are two important ways that dogs gather information. And because dogs are both hunters and scavengers, they're naturally attracted to smells of bodily fluids, as well as smells associated with decay. When dogs smell a biowaste product, they likely feel compelled to investigate into it, and they do so with their nose and tongue.

So if you've found your dog consuming any form of human biowaste, it's not necessarily because they love the taste — it's all part of their quest for information.

What To Do

If your dog ingests a tampon, remain calm! First, try to figure out how many tampons or pads your dog ate. If they ate non-used products, save the wrappers for counting purposes. If the products were used, try to estimate how many they may have consumed.

If they only consumed a small amount, your pup might be able to pass these products just fine. It won't be pretty, but it also won't be dangerous to their health.

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However, if you suspect your dog has eaten a large amount of any genital-based human product, take them to the vet. Additionally, watch for signs of intestinal blockage. These signs include diarrhea, vomiting, bloating, weight loss, and trouble eating. If your dog displays any of these symptoms, get them to the vet immediately.